Lake Harriet Southeast Beach is one of two public swimming beaches on Lake Harriet in southwest Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) runs it as part of Lake Harriet Park, which belongs to the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park. The small sand beach sits at 4740 East Lake Harriet Parkway on the lake's southeast corner, facing northwest across the water toward the bandshell. Lake Harriet covers about 335 acres and is roughly 85 feet deep at its deepest point.

The beach lies along East Lake Harriet Parkway at the edge of the Lynnhurst neighborhood, a short walk from where the Minnehaha Creek trail meets the lake. The Grand Rounds walking and bike paths run right behind the sand, and there is a bike rack at the beach, so many people arrive on foot or by bike. The park's pay parking lot is by the bandshell on the north shore, about a mile away by trail. Closer to the beach, read the posted signs before you park along the parkway or on side streets. The Minnesota DNR notes that Metro Transit routes 6 and 28 pass within a few blocks of the lake.

Swimming is allowed only inside the buoyed area. There are no lifeguards here. MPRB staffs only five of its twelve beaches (Lake Harriet North Beach is the guarded one on this lake, from 1 pm to 7 pm daily between mid-June and late August), so at Southeast Beach you swim at your own risk. Park rules require an adult to stay with children under 8 at all times. Inflatable rafts, tubes and air mattresses are banned without a permit, while Coast Guard approved life jackets worn properly, foam noodles and soft balls are fine. Glass, smoking and dogs are not allowed on the beach, and MPRB asks swimmers to stay out of the water when the air is 65 degrees F or colder.

There is no fee. MPRB charges nothing to use its beaches, and the DNR lists no park entrance fee for Lake Harriet. Beach hours are 6 am to 10 pm daily under park ordinance PB-3-1, and swimming in the lake or gathering on the beach between 10 pm and 6 am is prohibited. Groups of 10 or more can request a free beach group use permit. The only likely cost is parking if you use the pay lot at the bandshell.

Water quality is the main thing to check before you go. MPRB tests for E. coli weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day and closes the beach when counts exceed state limits. Southeast Beach was closed twice in summer 2024, in June and again from July 9, after heavy rain washed bacteria into the lake, and it reopened once retests came back clean. Staff also watch for blue-green algae and post advisories when blooms drift into the swim area. Avoid swimming for about 48 hours after a heavy rain, keep lake water out of your mouth, and towel off briskly afterward to cut the chance of swimmer's itch.

The rest of Lake Harriet Park is close by. The 2.75-mile walking path and 2.99-mile bike trail circle the lake, and the bandshell on the north shore hosts free summer concerts and movies. Bread and Pickle serves food at the pavilion, and Wheel Fun Rentals there rents canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and pedal boats in season. The park also has a fishing pier, picnic areas, Lyndale Park's gardens and the Roberts Bird Sanctuary on the northeast side.